Jonathan Grass
UpdatedSat, August 22, 2026 at 4:33 PM UTC
Ala. (WHNT) — A new study has ranked Alabama as one of the poorest states in the country for giving young children a healthy nutritional start
That according to a new childhood nutrition index from Juice Plus+ comparing all 50 states, in which Alabama landed at number 45. Alabama scored 40 out of 100, which is around 24% below the national average
The rankings compared conditions that support healthy nutrition for children ages 1–5
Key findings for Alabama included childhood poverty, sugary drink consumption, children’s diets and lack of access to nutritious foods
The data below from the study considers children aged 1-5 except for the USDA average household food insecurity, which is householdwide. Click here for the full report from Juice Plus+
Ate fruit at least once daily (CDC) | Ate vegetables at least once daily (CDC) | Drank a sugary drink once or more times weekly (CDC) | Living in households that could alwaysafford to eat nutritious foods. (CDC) | Child poverty under age 5 % (CENSUS ACS) | Average of household food insecurity (%, three-year average), 2021-23*(USDA) |
60% | 44% | 67% | 65% | 22.7% | 11.5% |
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